Toe-separator.



A. WEIL.

TOE SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11. 1914.

1,163,490. 7 Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

IIVI/E/VTOR WITNESSES I'TOR/VEYS no s'rn'rns PATENT ora ion.

ALEXANDER- WEIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TOE-SEPARATOR.

icaaao.

Specification of LettersJPatent.

' Patented nee; 7,1915.

Application filed Au ust 11,1914. .Seria1fio.856,222. J v

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER WEIL, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county andState of New York, have invented a new and Improved Toe-Sepa ing appliedthereto a toe separator con-- structed and arranged in accordance withthe present invention; Fig.2 is a perspective view of the spreader;'Fig.3 is a top view of a portion of the foot shown in Fig. 1,

showing in connection therewith the service relation of a toe separatorconstructed and arranged according to the present invention.

It has been found that many ailments of the foot, and especially of thetoes, are in cident to the crowding together of the toes, either when inthe shoe or under other conditions, the toes having been caused to crowdor rest one under the other. It has also been found that in certainailments the after results, such as the itching or prickling inchilblains, is directly or indirectly at tributable to the want ofproper circulation, or of separation between the toes. It is to overcomethese objections, which is the principal object of the presentinvention, and to accomplish which I provide the standing separators 8,9, 10 and 11.

As will be seen best in Fig. 2 of the drawp ings, the separators 8 to 11differ in shape .and size. These separators may differ to correspondwiththe idiosyncracies or char, acteristic shape of thetoes or foot of eachwearer. The shape is preferably ascertained by primarily making a castof so much of the foot or of the spaces between the toes thereof as isnecessary to the formation of a die wherein the spreader' is formed.

To facilitate the handling of the 'spreaders and to avoid the annoyanceincident to the handling of a multiplicity of pieces, the

spreaders are integrally connected with and erected above the toepalette 12. ,The toe palette 12 is'shaped to fit the footand to formpockets for the pads of the toes. When the cast is made to obtain theform-for the separators 8 to' 11, the shape and form of the pocket forthe pads of the toes are also given. 'm

The separators 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the palette 12 are constructed frommoisture absorbing material, preferably felt or cotton batting. Theseparatorsare given approximately-the consistency of that whlch is j Iused for orthopedic plasters of various kinds. Suitable dies are made topress the separators and palette to the required shape.

.When the separators and palettes are formed, they are placed on thefoot substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the draw ings, prior tothe stocking being drawn thereover. In this position the toes serve;

to hold the article until the stocking: and

the shoe are both adjusted. Anypressure which may now be exerted uponthe side of the foot, which without the separators 8 to 11 would crowdthe toes together, is counter: acted by the said separators, .WhlCll,standingbetween the toes, prevents the crowdlng.

In servicethe palette 12 forming-natural and fitted pockets for thetoes, serves to prevent unnatural formations thereon and 'an S5uncomfortable disposition thereof.

Claims 1. A device'as characterized, comprising a alette shaped toconform to the shape of the ball of the human foot and to theundersurfaces of the toes; 'and'a series of four separators constructed ofabsorbent material and integrally formed with said palette,

said separators being adapted to extend 'between the toes of the foot tothe upper surface thereof.

. 2. A device as characterized, comprising a I palette shaped to conformto the shape of. I In testimony whereof I have signed my the undersurfaces of the toes and the a d-- name to this specification in thepresence of 1" jacent portion of the ball of the human two subscribingwitnesses.

foot and a series ofsepatators integrally fornied on said palette forextending be- ALEXANDER tween the toes of said human foot to theWitnesses:

upper surface thereof, for completely sepa- GEO. L. BEELER,

rating the toes. PHILIP D. ROLLH-AUS.

